At the start of 2025, there were a bunch of new laws that went into effect in Minnesota. One of them was prohibiting these things called 'forever chemicals' from being in certain products we use every day.

What Are 'Forever Chemicals'?

The technical name for these 'forever chemicals' is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short. These PFAS have been found in many products that we use and wear and are incredibly dangerous.

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Kirk Koudelka, assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), spoke with KARE 11 about the dangers of PFAS and the new law. He said there are many health concerns regarding PFAS. "[S]ome of the most known are liver issues, low birth weights and kidney cancers."

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Items That Can't be Made with 'Forever Chemicals' in Minnesota

Minnesota had already "prohibited the use of PFAS in food packaging and firefighting foam". And with the new law that went into effect on January 1st, there are 11 more categories of products that cannot be made with 'forever chemicals'. Those categories are:

  • Carpets or rugs
  • Cleaning products
  • Ski wax
  • Cosmetics
  • Cookware
  • Dental floss
  • Fabric treatments
  • Juvenile products (including car seats, children's clothing, and toys for kids under 12)
  • Textile furnishings (including draperies, bedding, and towels)
  • Upholstered furniture
  • Menstruation products

New products sold or distributed in those 11 categories must be made without PFAS. But if you were to, for example, shop at a thrift store and grab a secondhand pan or secondhand pair of leggings, those could easily still have 'forever chemicals' in them, so we need to know what to look for.

Here's what we need to look for on labels, types of materials to avoid, and recommended replacement brands to get rid of as many 'forever chemicals' in your home as possible.

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How to Protect Your Home from 'Forever Chemicals'

CARPETS OR RUGS:

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Rug company Oh Happy Home writes that forever chemicals in rugs can be found in some that say they "repel oil, water and other liquids." They also sometimes say 'stain resistant' or 'stain vincible'. The stuff that was used to make this possible could very possibly be 'forever chemicals'.

For both rugs and chemicals, look for labels that say 'PFAS-free'. You can also ask the manufacturer or whoever you're getting your carpeting from if the carpet was made with  PFAS.

CLEANING PRODUCTS + SKI WAX:

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Consumer Notice writes, "An Environmental Pollution study found that childcare facilities that mopped daily had high levels of fluorotelomer sulfonates — a type of PFAS commonly found in cleaners and waxes." Make sure you're checking your cleaning products and ski wax for that name.

COSMETICS:

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I recently learned that sometimes what makes mascara waterproof is PFAS. Great. Consumer Notice writes, "Cosmetic products will often use PFAS to increase water resistance and durability."

COOKWARE:

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You've probably heard about how bad nonstick pans are for you because of the Teflon. Well, that's because it's made with 'forever chemicals'. Consumer Notice writes, "Many nonstick pans are treated with PFAS, which can contaminate your food when you scratch the pan or heat it too high."

PFAS-free cookware that you should switch to includes cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic-coated pans.

DENTAL FLOSS:

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I had no idea that your floss could have 'forever chemicals' in them! Asheville Dental says to "check floss for waxy coatings [and to] avoid anything that says 'glide ability' or has a non-stick coating." Eco-friendly floss brands are the safest option typically.

FABRIC TREATMENTS, JUVENILE PRODUCTS, TEXTILE FURNISHINGS, AND UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE:

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You want to read the labels on your clothing, bedding, towels, furniture, etc. in this case. Levin Law says that if it says things like 'water-resistant', 'stain-repellent', or 'wrinkle-free', the item has likely been treated with PFAS. Other words to look out for, according to EWG, are 'waterproof', 'grease resistant', or 'long lasting'.

They also say that synthetic materials like nylon and spandex can have 'forever chemicals' in them. Actually, some of our favorite clothing brands have tested positive for 'forever chemicals' after a consumer study by Mamavation tested 32 clothing brands for PFAS contaminants.

The brands that tested positive for 'forever chemicals' include:

  • Athleta
  • Lululemon
  • LuLaRoe
  • Old Navy
  • Yogalicious

MENSTRUATION PRODUCTS: 

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Finally, there are many menstruation products that can have 'forever chemicals' in them. Thinx, a brand that makes period underwear, has actually been under fire for having PFAS in their period underwear. That's because PFAS "help make the material more absorbent and, in the case of period underwear, more stain-resistant" according to Time.

'Forever chemicals' can also be found in pads and tampons. So to avoid all of that, these are some safe, alternative options according to Liz Winter Wellness:

  • Reusable silicone menstrual cups (Diva Cup, OrganiCup, Cora Cup, Saalt Cup)
  • Reusable pads (Luna pads, Glad rags)
  • Kinx period underwear (knix, thinx is bad)
  • Flex disc
  • Tampon and pad brands that are safe: Cora, L., and Seventh Generation Free and Clear

Minnesota Saunas to Warm Up and Relax this Winter

During the brunt of winter in Minnesota it's time to escape the cold and relax. The perfect place to do that is at one of the saunas we have around Minnesota.

Gallery Credit: Carly Ross

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